Economic System of Islam
participate in these meetings. The sole reason for this is that Russia
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Economic-System-of-Islam
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participate in these meetings. The sole reason for this is that Russia is a military power, while countries like Belgium, France and Holland are less powerful. If the military might is the only reason for giving weight to Russia’s voice, it seems highly unlikely that Russia would be prepared to accept others in its economic programme. A country that accords little value to other countries’ views concerning peace cannot be expected to provide food and clothing to them. Once its industry advances, Russia can be expected to seek ‘mandates’ over its markets instead of equal participation. In short, the Soviet Union does not really stand for ‘death to capitalism’—that is only an illusion in the minds of some people. Its real slogan is: Death to capitalism where individuals own property The Economic System of Islam 119 and long live the state capitalism of Russia. The consequence of this state of affairs can be predicted—it was possible to withstand the power and influence of individual capitalists, but nobody would be able to compete with the state-run capitalism . Barriers to Barriers to Barriers to Barriers to Foreign Foreign Foreign Foreign Influences Influences Influences Influences in Russia in Russia in Russia in Russia It seems that Russia is aware of its basic weakness and tries to shield itself by restricting contacts with foreign countries. In an article published in the June issue of The Soviet Union, Mr. Stephen King- Hall, a member of the British Parliament, reported his impressions based on his recent visit to Russia. He wrote that the Russian Gov- ernment did not wish that the Russian people should be exposed to Western ideas or thinking. He went on to say that it was only through official channels—not directly—that one could get an idea of the Russian way of life, and that this state of affairs would con- tinue for some time. Russian isolation was evident during the recent visit of a group of Russian expert who came along with some Americans to this country. The Russians were surprised to find that in India one could travel freely, while in their own country, people had little money to travel on their own. They felt as though they had been transported to a different world. This instance reflected Russia’s lack of exposure to other countries. Obviously, the Russians cannot be kept in ‘cold storage’ indefinitely; one day the wall of isolation would crumble and the world would witness a profound transformation . 120 The Economic System of Islam Russian Claims of Practising Equality Among its Citizens are Not Credible I have my doubts about equality in Russia, but since the information about the actual situation is very scanty, one cannot be sure. I do know that ordinary Russian soldiers wear worn-out uniforms. I have learned this from our Ahmadi officers and soldiers who were posted in places where they had contact with the Russian army. According to them, the uniforms worn by the soldiers from the Asian part of the Soviet Union were particularly shabby. By contrast, the uniforms worn by Russian Marshals—as can be seen from their pictures in the newspaper—are elegant, resplendent with very expensive medals. The cost of these medals alone dispels any the notion of equality in the Soviet Union. The state of equality in Russia can be gauged from a banquet Mr. Stalin gave in honour of Mr. Churchill when he visited Moscow during the war. Mr. Churchill, upon his return to England, said that he wished his capitalist country could afford to feed him on the same sumptuous scale as he had seen in a country with a proletarian Government. If equality really exists in Moscow, does an ordinary Russian get the same lavish dinners as are offered at state banquets? If not, it is evident that Russia has not resolved the problem of inequality, nor is there a prospect that it will in future. The lavishness displayed at state banquets cannot be rationalised on grounds of necessity. During the war, state banquets in England were quite simple. Russia could have kept the banquet simple, but their real motivation was to impress Mr. Churchill with Russia’s The Economic System of Islam 121 grandeur. It is this attitude that frustrates the spirit of equality. This incident also suggests that the notion of equality itself has undergone change over time, and a new class of rich is emerging that is rooted in the power and influence within the Communist Party. In short, inequality persists in the Soviet Union, but its form has changed . While reviewing the manuscript for the speech, I came across a piece of news relating to the absence of equality in Russia. I reproduce it below because it throws light on the subject and lends support to my assessment. It was reported by the Canberra correspondent of ‘The Sun’, a well-known Australian newspaper, that the Australian Ambassador to Russia gave a statement before a parliamentary party during his holidays in which he stated: 1. A new class of wealthy people is emerging in Russia because the influential members of the Communist Party as well as those considered technical experts get far better treatment than ordinary people. 2. In restaurants the food served is graded into five classes, tickets for which can be obtained according to party influ- ence or the nature of a person’s job. 3. In consequence, the difference among individuals is as evi- dent today as it was during Czarist Russia. 4. While in other countries the black market is run by the shadier segments of society, in Russia it is in the hands of the authorities themselves. 5. As a consequence, important people can obtain whatever they wish, while the ordinary labourer has to do without many necessities of life. 122 The Economic System of Islam The Australian Ambassador subsequently expressed regret at the publication of the report on the ground that it was likely to upset Australia’s relations with Soviet Russia. However, he did not con- tradict it. This suggests that the expression of regret was politically motivated and was not a contradiction of the statement itself. This report also confirms my expectations regarding the future of Russia, as described earlier. It was inevitable that a new class of wealthy people would emerge in Russia, for the differences in individuals’ capacity and calibre cannot be ignored. Because Communism lacks the restraints on power, privilege and wealth— as ordained in Islam—the new class is bound to drag Communist governments to the old ways. The only consequence of the Communist Revolution would be to give Russia a prominent place among imperialist nations in exploiting the profitable opportunities wherever available. The hope of a proletarian world government would turn into an unrealisable dream. This is so because Communist philosophy was not anchored in human sympathy, but in the goal of settling scores with the Czarist government. Unanswered Questions About Claims of Equality I would like to say something here about the moral and cultural standard of the ordinary Russian soldiers. I learned of the case of a train carrying drums of benzene oil through Iran. When one of the drums leaked, some Russian soldiers mistook it for rum or beer, and started drinking it. About one thousand Russian soldiers ended up drinking benzene, which resulted in the death of dozens of soldiers while hundreds were taken ill. It was a display of total The Economic System of Islam 123 lack of commitment to national service; the soldiers forgot their sense of duty and responsibility to protecting their country’s property, i.e. the benzene. It also shows that the soldiers assigned in Iran were not paid enough to resist temptation and they had not benefited from Russia’s economic progress. With respect to Russian industry, the question arises whether the nature of work is similar in every industry. Clearly, a coal miner’s work is quite different from that of a shopkeeper. Similarly, a tailor’s needs for capital are different from the needs of a man who wants to start working as a jeweller. How does Communism propose to resolve these differences? Does the government own all the capital of the shopkeepers and control all their transactions? Further, is an incompetent doctor or a lawyer entitled to charge the same fees as other doctors and lawyers? If the fees can vary according to ability, how can the presumed claim of equality be established? And if the best doctor or a lawyer cannot charge a higher fee, would everyone not rush to them for service? In this case, how can they attend to everyone? In short, as soon as the Communist principle of equality is put into practice, a host of questions arise. We are not in a position to know how these questions may be answered in Russia. But so long as satisfactory answers are not forthcoming, the conclusion must remain that the Communist proponents of equality are wrong in their claims. 124 The Economic System of Islam A Proper Economic System After reflecting over these important matters, a reasonable person would conclude that a practical economic system must leave room for religion. Short term economic considerations must not permit that the longer term consequence of an economic system be ignored. Only that economic system would be beneficial to humanity which fulfils everyone’s basic needs, but also promotes healthy competition among individuals while curbing unhealthy rivalry. The fact is that Communism was a reaction to past tyranny. That explains why this philosophy spread to areas where people were oppressed, but it did not take root in such countries as Great Britain and the United States. Similarly, it has not been successful in countries where nationalist or socialist governments were in power. Some time ago an American newspaper posed an interesting question to the working classes: Do you consider yourself to belong to the Capitalist Class, the Middle Class or the poor class? The majority of the respondents said that they considered themselves to be in the Middle Class. This suggests that it does not occur to an American worker that he is poor. This is the reason why Communism was an even bigger failure in the United States than in Great Britain. On account of the abundance of wealth in America the labouring class does not feels that they are impoverished and are in need of a system that redresses their complaints and meets their basic needs. Thus, the real solution to the problem is that: The Economic System of Islam 125 1. In accordance with the Islamic teaching, the rights of the poor should be safeguarded; and 2. The hopes and aspirations of people should be fostered. In Germany and Italy, people were not distributed money, but their aspirations were nurtured. As a consequence, they started viewing themselves as victorious and triumphant. Hope and aspirations are vital for national progress. A nation, where people no longer have aspirations or where its poor are denied basic rights, is inevitably destined to its ruin. Responsibilities of Rich Towards Poor The wealthy people in our country should realise their responsibili- ties before it is too late and should hasten to discharge the obliga- tions they owe to poorer people. As I look at it, the emergence of Communism is a punishment against the tyrannies perpetrated by the rich upon the poor. There is still time for improvement and to atone for excesses of the past. If wealthier people are unwilling to discharge their duties towards their less fortunate brethren, the hand of God Almighty will snatch away their wealth through this instrument [of Commu- nism]. Repentance and appropriate action now can save you from this terrible danger and the awful storm gathering over your heads will move away to leave you in safety just as a tornado suddenly changes its course. You can either voluntarily part with a portion of your wealth for the uplift of the poor, as called upon by God; or 126 The Economic System of Islam you can face God’s displeasure and continue to hold on to your wealth, which a little while later will be taken away by rebels and troublemakers. And finally, while discussing the rise of Communism and the problems of the Russian economy, I wish to draw attention to a striking prophecy in regard to Russia made at the time when the world knew little about that area. Prophecies About Russia A Prophecy of More than Two Thousand Years Ago Russia, as we know, has only come into prominence during the last three or four hundred years. Before that it was a very sparsely populated territory, whose people were split into various tribes, holding small strips of land. Even in areas that bordered on the regions now known as Russia, this endless expanse of territory had no economic or political significance. A thousand years ago, it was scarcely known, sparsely populated, and attracted little interest. Farther back in history, 2500 years ago, hardly anyone knew of it. An isolated geographer here and there might have had some vague notion of its existence, but no more. At that time Prophet Ezekiel made a striking prophecy, which is preserved in the books of the Old Testament. The Economic System of Islam 127 Ezekiel Chapter 38 Ezekiel Chapter 38 Ezekiel Chapter 38 Ezekiel Chapter 38 1. And the word of the Lord came unto me saying. 2. Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and prophesy against him. 3. And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; 4. And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them han- dling swords. 5. Persia, Ethiopia and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet; 6. Gomer and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands; and many people with thee. 7. Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them. 8. After many days thou shalt be visited; in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people against the mountains of Israel; which have been always waste; but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. 9. Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou and all thy bands, and many people with thee. 128 The Economic System of Islam 10. Thus saith the Lord God; it shall also come to pass that at the same time shall things come, into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought. 11. And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled vil- lages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates. 12. To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have got- ten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. 13. Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? To carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? 14. Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord God; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? 15. And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses a great company and a mighty army. 16. And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days; and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. 17. Thus saith the Lord God; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel The Economic System of Islam 129 which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them? 18. And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that my fury shall come up in my face. 19. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spo- ken Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; 20. So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field and all creeping things that creep upon the earth and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. 21. And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains saith the Lord God every man’s sword shall be against his brother. 22. And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him and upon his bands and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. 23. Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD. Download 1.25 Mb. Do'stlaringiz bilan baham: 
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